Portland is losing the ‘graffiti war’ | CHAOSTOWN S1FINALE

[@chaostown]

CHAOSTOWN has not been questioned by law enforcement. We may look a little different than the news reporters you’re used to, but we hold ourselves to journalistic standards. We do not reveal sources, to anyone. More soon.

[@Gatoona]

I call bull. One of the taggers you interviewed got arrested because of your video. Good luck getting any interviews in the future now.

[@sobmaz]

@@GatoonaThe police are heading your way. You may want to run while you still can.

[@dubshelb]

Oregonian article is directly claiming that this video led police to the featured taggers home and stash...definitely would like a more detailed update from you. Worried about the future of the channel if this was the result.

[@pdxcerealkilla9847]

Agreed it's definitely not a good look for the channel ​@@dubshelb

[@Dylwud]

If anything you guys should of blurred him out more. It’s his fault for agreeing to be on here. You don’t think detectives have had an eye on him, and then they see this video and notice the tattoos, voice, the clothing he wears. The dude probably wore that same hat after this video. If they saw this video noticed all the stash he has they are for sure going to find him. Y’all hating on this guy who is trying to do journalism but don’t realize the cops know more than you even think.

[@bannockboa6131]

The old man gets up more than anyone else 😂 the irony

[@Bigloserbox]

He's on some anti style on steroids shit 😂😂😂

[@ashahahaha]

His shadow tags are legendary now

[@seniknine]

Broad daylight no less.

[@KahluaBomb]

There's a great mockumentary about how the buff is actually abstract art. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnWmeJ6oo8eGidk Takes place in PDX too!

[@AlexSawyer-rj5iq]

It looks worse lol

[@SonicGasoline]

"i hate graffiti" *proceeds to buff over some tags on a mailbox with the wrong color*

[@jordanschaub8059]

it looked worse after he buffed it

[@rctopfueler2841]

@@SonicGasoline so what are you doing to improve the city or deal with bad art ?

[@g..d.1598]

​@@rctopfueler2841nothing cuz it dont hurt anyone and its literally a waste of tax payer money if u think u can genuinely stop graffiti ur delusional

[@embearasedbear3694]

​@@g..d.1598lol you're the only delusional one.

[@embearasedbear3694]

Nah dude is pretty based. You're just women raised.

[@tmbleweed_5ix949]

This documentary resulted in gimer having charges pressed against him. They also were able to find his stash house full of spray paint. "1,500 cans of spray paint from a house in the Centennial neighborhood after finding clues to its whereabouts in an edgy web documentary."

[@justinward7331]

Yeah it's fucked up. Someone snitched.

[@FratDickComminThru]

Yeah definitely not a good look for credibility and journalistic integrity.

[@DirkDiggler1620]

Came here to watch after reading about it. Sad.

[@Moises-xl1ft]

I was parked in a parking lot and gimer knocked on my window and asked if I minded if he did a piece on the building in front of me. Told him not my wall, not my problem, have at it. I chatted with him for a bit after, he said he'd never been arrested for it and was only caught in the act once by law and more or less told to 'get out of here', but didn't arrest him. I asked how long he'd be doing it and what drove him to start, he said only a couple years and he pretty much traded one addiction for another using this art to help keep him off drugs. Seemed like a decent dude

[@LOL_Garrus]

Haha, good!

[@atomsmasher7023]

Graffiti is probably the least of Portland's problems

[@VvvnimaL]

Definitely helps the city look more shitty tho

[@TheRCish]

@@VvvnimaL nah it makes a city feel like people actually live in it, a city without graffiti doesn't feel like a city

[@VvvnimaL]

@@TheRCish makes it look like degens live in it. Can tell you're not well traveled with that comment

[@fanaticist]

except when people move out and people don't move in because the city is ghetto.

[@fanaticist]

​@@TheRCishbecause architecture in America is garbage.

[@burnintrees420]

As a lifelong Portlander, this is the shit I love to stumble across on yt. Good shit, keep it up.

[@supme7558]

Gross

[@Ozlobeest]

They just busted them because of the documentary....hahaha

[@burnintrees420]

@@supme7558 So it's gross that I like to see inside of underground niche cultures within my city!? Seems like an ignorant take if u asked me!

[@r3db0x]

Never give interviews. Not even to Vice.

[@dreadfulXLIVE]

Good AdVice

[@moderaterevolution504]

but they had to feel special. Why be an "artist" if you cant feel special

[@ayle1312]

especially not to vice lol

[@w0jtiiiiii]

that stash got raided later and they took all the paint but do not believe me 100%

[@ethertoangle8133]

especially not to vice they have gotten so many people killed and arrested

[@flytronica]

Love that the old guy doesn’t realise that what he is doing is graffiti 😂

[@ashahahaha]

I was the suspect I was looking for the whole time 😮 it's the perfect crime

[@FUKdjt8645]

Yup, but nobody stops the guy with free civic labor

[@StephanyChills]

sounds like "buffers" would rather have the graffiti artist (actual) focus their outlet towards drugs, trafficking, and the things that are really ruining Portland. St. Louis has a legit area just for graffiti. rules are no unwilling businesses and must leave work alone for at least a day or a week (not sure, has been 20 yrs or so) I think it would help the city if they offered up approved location.

[@zoutewand]

​@@StephanyChills Legal walls are more like a hall of fame/chillspot, they're not what most graffheads want. There is also never enough space on legal walls. We have legal walls where I live but people still get up

[@EagleTears]

He is buffing not bombing.

[@darksaga80]

Wow, so actual journalism isn't dead yet. Just an amazing piece. No political angles, just talking to the people and getting their side of the story. Nobody in this doc has any illusions about what they do and why. The buffer just sees it as a job. The writer understands its their job, but they see the positive side of what they do for them in giving them a clean space to work with again. The writers know what they do is illegal, but feel there is a higher purpose to what they do. You just stood in the middle and let the people tell their stories. Portland has become such a complex place with a ton of complex issues. I'm glad to see you showing another angle to what the city is struggling with. God bless the writers surviving and channeling their energy into their art. This kind of journalism is so rare these days and you guys nailed it. Earned another sub, your channel deserves so much more.

[@chaostown]

Thank you for this!

[@beepbeep8489]

brandon buckingham and channel 5 with andrew callaghan are also pretty based journalist channels

[@Error_5383]

​@@chaostownno no, thank you

[@Graffeeebah]

That was dope! All of it! I'm subbing too!

[@cameronblanchette6687]

Agreed, incredible graffiti journalism. Big fan of these kinds of docs cause u cant find nuanced perspectives like this anywhere else.

[@10oner]

This a PRIME example of why u never ever ever talk to the news or journalists. These narcs started talkin as soon as police put pressure and now the artist in this vid is arrested. Shameful

[@moderaterevolution504]

Its shameful that some kid destroying peoples property was stopped? What does that comment even mean?

[@nismo9574]

@@moderaterevolution504public property belongs to the public… he wasnt asked how the train should look so he doesnt ask them and make it look how he wants!

[@moderaterevolution504]

@@nismo9574 wtf take your meds

[@jamesd.3068]

@@moderaterevolution504sounds like you take enough for everyone here bud

[@moderaterevolution504]

@@jamesd.3068 ok nice one guy

[@G.GordonMidi]

I lived in Portland for like a decade and the “how the fuck did that get up there” artist was ELMS for me. Terrifying spots

[@PowerHouseBeats]

yes!! cant believe elms is still running 12 years later too.

[@KEYDUPInc-xt7rs]

ELMS IS A SAVAGE!

[@Retsiger]

Elms 🎉

[@iksplizit]

Metro is one I saw allot as a kid

[@ianbruno8120]

look up kid pk in jersey.. my old tattoo artist told me that he owned or had family that owned a window washing business for sky scrapers. id assume alot of the artists hitting insane sports have some sort of hook up like that,.

[@ChingyahMum]

bro really got done for this documentary

[@Declan_conlan]

I’m interested to see if it was snitching or just use of the documentary

[@PatricioTv-]

🤦🏽‍♂️

[@DIGITAL27]

@@Declan_conlan in the car his face showed

[@AS-rg3dd]

@@DIGITAL27where

[@DIGITAL27]

@@AS-rg3dd the driving part

[@keithlawty2414]

Bruh. Just found your channel via this video. I was born and raised in Portland. Moved far away in 2010 when i was already priced out of staying. Graffiti ruining portland? Nah. My home was ruined long ago by politicians and the rest of the system. Keep up the work. Im watching.

[@AA-ch7yw]

You got priced out of Portland because: 1) it is/was the least expensive major West Coast city, while all the other West Coast cities’ cost of living went up at an even faster rate. Thus an influx of people and growth fueled by people moving from other big cities. 2) in the 90s and 2000s, cities were “in” again. A lot of people didn’t want to live in soul-crushing suburban developments. They wanted walkable cities with safe public transit, non-chain restaurants, and vibrant public spaces. There were very few places in the US like this. 3) Portlandia didn’t help. Local government is absolutely dysfunctional. City charter, weak mayor system, etc. Not to mention the loudest, most politically active citizens are a bunch of embarrassing losers. But even if Portland had the most talented strong city manager at the helm, it wouldn’t magically make the cost of living like Rockford, IL. Graffiti: part of the charm in 2000. In 2024, the large majority of Portlanders would openly celebrate a tagger getting run over by a bus. They are completely fed up with street signs being covered with graffiti, parks and natural areas being spray painted, gang shit, and personally spending hard-earned money on clean-ups, and murals being covered up with shitty tagging. And the general embarrassment when the city you take pride in suddenly turned into a Mad Max hellscape and shown on Fox News for them to gloat about the lawlessness and urban decay.

[@cryptomnesiac]

Graf is the least of Portland's problems, it's the corrupt politicians. It blows my mind that anyone wouldn't recognize that.

[@TheFryPo]

Hey this is what liberal politics wanted, this whole city now is a symbol of these policies

[@eriknorman7409]

​Yep! democrats and woke people turn everything into shit.....trump 2024eFryPo

[@zoutewand]

​@@AA-ch7ywthe reason people go over murals is because we made murals a thing, and now people are paid to do them so graffiti writers don't do their thing over it. A lot of those people who do them have nothing to do with graffiti so that's why stuff like that is disliked by some graffiti writers. imagine paying for paint, getting huge fines or even prison for putting murals on buildings, only to later have someone get paid to do the exact same thing to keep you away from it. It just feels wrong.

[@likexritual]

absolutely blown away by the quality and camera work of this doc. been writing most of my teen and adult life, watched a million docs and movies about graff and what it takes to do this, this has got to be one of the best i’ve ever seen. respect from Los Angeles and peace to every writer in this video doing what they do because they love the culture but also hate the system.

[@felixpetteni9972]

As a resident of Portland the city is hurting in many other ways. Kinda annoys me actually when people focus on graffiti rather than homelessness and rampant drug abuse. The graffiti is an expression of the frustration and neglect the city faces.

[@brotonamous790]

fellow resident here, we keep voting for shitty people with bad policies and act surprised when things get shitty. nothing will change, at least not for a long time un-till the mindset of Portland changes. we keep wasting taxes on useless programs and projects that are only ever exploited and or are unnecessary.

[@sjfamily1581]

Right! Perfectly said. Since covid it's become the wild west

[@irritablysavvy]

Graffiti is something people can control. Drug use is not.

[@YourCommonSinner]

@@irritablysavvy🤡 control through abuse of power and/or giving law enforcement and city officials too much power and over charging and penalizing graffiti artists

[@sobmaz]

So because there is corporate crime we should ignore petty crime? It all destroys the fabric of society, just at different rates of destruction. Stop your graffiti now, especially the bubble letters that make it look like a 5 year old planned it out.

[@takeotenn]

Hahaha old Homie got that fever! Lolol. What he’s doing is graff.

[@User56538]

ironic but true... sounds like gramps is full-city! 😂

[@zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzxxxxxxxx]

That's as antistyle as it gets

[@RicoxDeGallo]

I'm about to make a sticker out of that dude.

[@GazongasUniversity]

Goes by his government name, uses stock caps street side daytime. Absolutely mogging writers.

[@Joe_Damageo]

@@GazongasUniversity Im dead

[@skidogleb]

That old guy should wear a mask for his health, it is kinda funny seeing his hand style and the paint on his shoes. He's just protecting his turf.

[@503punxoioioi9]

I'd wager he has OCD as he is just as compelled as the graffiti writers and doing the same receptive actions over and over to feel like he has control over things. It's your brain playing tricks on you. He was on Hawthorne and then in Sellwood area.

[@TheLifePhoenix]

I noticed his hand style too haha.

[@Mxq315]

When?

[@drumagus2258]

you know he loves the smell.

[@plixplop]

lol he'd use half as much paint with methodical spraying

[@willeudave7839]

BRO BUFFED ME AFTER 10 YEARS THIS IS TRIPPING ME OUT LOL

[@IMKINDOFABIGDEAL13]

As a local. Spend some time and money fixing the infrastructure instead of worrying about cleaning it lol. There are potholes out there that destroy cars 😂

[@slaytronic]

stop driving?

[@IMKINDOFABIGDEAL13]

@@slaytronic can’t that’s how I make my money. I’m a contractor

[@derekdavis1109]

Why not both you clowns ?!!?

[@slaytronic]

@@IMKINDOFABIGDEAL13 it was a joke now worries what state you work in i am looking for a gen contractor to do some work on my house

[@IMKINDOFABIGDEAL13]

@@slaytronic oh I know buddy. I work in Portland Oregon. I don’t do any residential work anymore or I would try and help ya out.

[@bubbly1470]

cant even compare myself to these guys but i love seeing the culture in other places and the sheer skill and determination these guys have for graff. also amazing video with very good quality cant believe the channel is so small

[@deejaydiabolic]

Damn, just read an article that GIMERs house got raided because the cops recieved a couple tips that stemmed from this interview.

[@dreadfulXLIVE]

They ratted on him

[@user-mq6dy2ee5f]

you mean like him saying he's been doing it for 20 years and showing off all the evidence in his house?

[@dreadfulXLIVE]

@@user-mq6dy2ee5f they ratted on him

[@dreadfulXLIVE]

@@user-mq6dy2ee5f i didnt say he was smart for doing this documentary

[@deejaydiabolic]

@@user-mq6dy2ee5f uh. And?

[@spitfyre8688]

This feels like some old Vice shit, actually reminds me a lot of the vice coverage of tagging culture in Miami. Maybe it's just the similar topic but tbh, this goes way above and beyond how Vice covered this. Great stuff, I really really hope to see more stuff from you guys in the future, your work as reporters is amazing and I'd love to see you all branch out.

[@Lilvato7]

That’s why u don’t do documentaries with randoms

[@Tokyonoodles]

Just a FYI for any graffiti artists, if you DO give a interview, which is highly discouraged, you cover their heads with a sack and lead them to your hideout, never let them know what you look like and where you reside, just a rookie mistake, especially why would u let them know where you’re paint stash is, smh

[@oldplanetmedia1629]

"Look, we don't have a personal vendetta against taggers and graffiti. That's not our business, that's not our model." No shit lol, they pay your bills in a sense

[@Jokeu-nh6qw]

I’m just happy a journalist was non-biased it’s a breathe of fresh air. Please keep this up

[@kphaxx]

I know right? Didn't realize his much effort and risk went into graffiti art. Imagine if they used that energy to get a job instead.

[@ArtFiendz]

​@@kphaxxthey got jobs bruh lmao

[@nathanfleener2664]

He'll be back ​@@ironhockey116

[@archiewhitridge9559]

Yeah he snitched on it me of them and got them arrested

[@ArtFiendz]

@@ironhockey116 Nope. you're wrong. 1 person in jail doesn't mean all graffiti artists are in jail lol.

[@marcuscullen5268]

The irony of the tag "Rat" up above this dudes head in the shot 19:40 😂

[@MrWiseinheart]

Big clue huh.. 😅

[@hl1377]

The vast majority of graffiti in Portland is garbage. It isn't even good.

[@NukeSonyz]

You are not a graffiti art major so your opinion on what's good or bad graffiti means nothing to people please keep that in mind going further.

[@hl1377]

@@NukeSonyz Yep, all I did was spend the entire 90s and early 2000s in New York and Boston going to underground Hip Hop shows and immersing myself in that culture including graffiti. And, yes, 97% of the tags and 85% of the throw ups in Portland are complete garbage. If you don't see that, you're uncultured or dumb or maybe both.

[@NukeSonyz]

@@hl1377 cool and I'm from Philadelphia the home of graffiti where I spent the majority of the 90s tagging the streets where you were paying money to go watch hip-hop shows congratulations.

[@hl1377]

@@NukeSonyz and you think what the "writers" in Portland have done looks good? That is truly disappointing considering that you are a graffiti art major and think everyone should care about your opinion. I stand by what I said - at least 97% of the tags and 85% of the throw ups in Portland are complete garbage.

[@NukeSonyz]

@@hl1377 see what you don't understand about graffiti it's not about how it looks it's about why it's being done. So when's the last time you paid money to go see a hip-hop show and support the culture?

[@delia_watercolors]

Im from NYC and I've seen many beautiful graffiti murals over the years. These works actually brought a depressed area some vibrant color and energy. While they would often get painted over shortly by city, volunteers or at the expense of the business. many in the communites appreciated these graffiti "paintings." Some also contained inspirational, uplifting communith messages! What Portland looks like, at least from this video, appears to be careless tagging. Little to no artistic effort is being put into this "graffiti." I'd suspect that artists who do this have much different goals.

[@naturdoc4076]

Taggers are narcissists.

[@cc-df1do]

i agree but i would go further to say that buffing just ugly-fies things. i’d much rather see colorful amateur tagging than neautrals haphazardly buffed over

[@darpanabai3967]

Graffiti is sick. Don't stop

[@AddColor2Life]

I prefer graffiti art over a plain concrete wall. There is a difference between art and tagging a wall.

[@corey9313]

Agreed my friend. That building they show is like the number 1 focus for the graffiti problem in Portland because it's next to the highway, but it's totally abandoned, falling apart and I don't think it really bothers anyone. A lot of that graffiti is art. A lot of the graffiti on Powell, Burnside, Hawthorne and the Lloyd District is art, but a lotttt of it is f8%king trash, too. When my parents come to town, they think it's a gang ridden city, but I'm like no, it's art. Also, Monk is everywhere

[@late.student]

Check out the KGW news vid on GIMER's arrest. I don't see what in this doc gave up the identity of the artist. The outside of the home was never pictured and the leading roads weren't either. It was a hard cut to their stash. Voice masking/Full body blurring could have been used but I just think the artist willingly showcasing the stockpile of supplies got the police horned up to look further into any high profile artist they catch. He has been arrested before. Wouldn't really blame this on CHAOSTOWN as everyone documented here consented to take a deeper look into their world and should have known the risks of that.

[@B1Z_ONE]

The only potential loose end I see is the UHAUL van. LE could have got a warrant and showed a photo of chaos town dude who is very recognizable. It’s rare but some private UHaul companies could have trackers on their vehicles. That’s the ONLY thing i see that could have got them caught up. At that point it’s just seeing where the van went and cross checking names at those addresses. GIMER been busted before so he would have been in the system. More likely though someone ratted him out who just don’t like the shine.

[@MeansJustifyEnds]

@@B1Z_ONE They could possibly have used ODOT cams from the little field trip they took to scout locations and followed them using the cams to a recognizable vehicle or something. Also GIMER could have been a known alias in LEDS.

[@onlyk8436]

The world is peaking and history is repeating this buffman and crazy stunts is reminding me of infamy

[@sebastiaan6101]

It’s only gonna be a matter of time till buffman1 hits his first big spot with the 7 cans and stock caps 😂

[@Nwordscissorhands1738]

Takes me back to 7th grade watching that right after I started writing 😂

[@Anxietye]

I was just about to say. Although he’s not as intense as the Huffman in infamy. But it’s crazy how history just repeats itself. lol

[@daes5465]

Theres many Other Things human do , AS well AS the old man himself is Not good IT hast sth to do with the Main psychosis of human Hating graffitty IS the Same AS destroying Things with Graffiti Sonetimes ITS interacting with everything A huge Problem is destruction of the earth with a Spray can But the old man is doing IT too while hating graffitti

[@mr.martyr8573]

Good ol Joe Connely. Lol

[@ModmanOfficial]

this mf made a better doc than Vice ever has

[@pokerdealer2003]

Vice died like ten years ago we've been watching regurgitated garbage from that name.

[@willdavidson7429]

legit thought this was a Vice Documentary. very well done.

[@garychandler4296]

They weren't fat or steupid enough looking.

[@Anieve714]

Damn you got GIMER caught up! No more graffiti artists gonna be doing shit with y'all smh.

[@Knox1919]

Everybody is commenting this but there's no proof that they snitched? Exposure is the whole point of graffiti, of course a real artist is willing to risk getting caught for more fame. That's the whole point in the first place...

[@eevanhhowe]

He did it to himself sadly

[@zoutewand]

I'm not sure if he actually snitched or not. If you do an interview you put a spotlight on yourself and every detail will be looked thru by anyone who wants that spotlight to turn into a mugshot.

[@destfuehler9724]

@@Knox1919 some of us aren't in it for the fame js

[@zerostarvevo]

@destfuehler9724 >"us" Gang you gotta add allegedly or in minecraft to your sentences

[@blareschair]

Whoever edited this video knew what they were doing. I’m talking 17:28 dude says ‘…how you’ve noticed graffiti evolve…’ synced up with a big ass notice piece

[@f.g.9466]

real ones noticed that!

[@VAMPZDJ]

I NOTICED that too.

[@jameserb7904]

Clean up guy-“Don’t really know what it says.” Me- “PINCH”

[@Marlboro-lights1]

I once wrote “a turd in the hand is worth 2 n the butt” on a McDonald’s bathroom stall. That day my alter ego was born.

[@Pay-No-Mind]

When I lived in PDX I thought the Black Tar Heroin was bad, and the meth, but the Lloyd Center was alive, downtown was bustling, Hawthorne was all hippies and old deadhead, the city was still alive....and now, it's heartbreaking to see, local government has failed the people massively.

[@HubCityMan]

That's what I'm saying

[@Dune571]

100%. As a PDX born and bred, it really breaks my heart to drive around town now. Out of state plates, 10 dollar croissants, and assholes every other block.

[@tinaburdo7739]

@@Dune571 Totally feel you on that. Born n bred in Seattle. It's lookin more like SFO all the time. Also we have so many people stealing cars then ramming right into stores. Price gets passed to us Grrrr

[@taxevader7777]

And because of drug prohibition we now have fentanyl (often mixed with other drugs like xylazine and benzos, making it even more deadly) instead of heroin. Thanks prohibition!

[@grlygirl1264]

I agree...but they keep voting for the same thing... when will the people stop?

[@drinkbleech]

there is a quiet and beautiful contrast of the operations seeming to be "against" each other. the taggers, occupying the night--darkness and the buffers occupying the day-lightness. such a well done vid too.

[@ChaseOtis]

“I fit” “surprisingly” bro didn’t have to do him like that💀

[@FiveFourOne87l1]

I heard that also. Was thinking "damn bro. What a cut"

[@bhoffman8984]

That old man is actually the original Cap but in “retirement”. Respect.

[@Coneitors]

what?

[@MoneyMC209]

CAP is an old school 70s/80s NYC tagger that crossed everyone out.

[@josiahamaze]

Haha it IS Cap

[@josiahamaze]

Cap would be around thisnguys age. That's the craziest part.

[@Andynonymous_music]

30:45 no wrist strap on the phone, the most ballsy part of the whole video lol

[@acre64]

Just having a phone on you while commiting a crime is really dumb,great way for the police to proof you were on that location all night.

[@invade81]

@@acre64 It's possible it's just a photo on a device without a sim. But probably not.

[@jordancampbell2577]

As a climber, I stumbled upon this video after often wondering if these kids knew what they were actually doing when it came to efficiently rappelling and ascending lines to get to these spots and although there’s serious room for improvement, glad to see they aren’t just fucking around and finding out. Super rad from my perspective.

[@griffyt209]

What would you say needs improvement in respects to monks rappelling? I am interested in learning and would love to understand what he might be doing wrong/inefficiently

[@jordancampbell2577]

@@griffyt209 ​​⁠​⁠ hey there! After reviewing the video I have a couple things I noticed to share, but take them with a grain of salt and don’t just trust everything some guy on a KZbin video comments 😅 1.) the knot he used to hitch to that railing was a bit odd. Looked like a simple overhand on a bight followed by a half hitch of some sort, which is not a very strong combo. But the video is a bit grainy and I’m not a knot expert by any means. As rappelling relies on one fixed point, it has to be bomber good. I’d personally choose a bowline variant or even better, a figure of 8 knot for a fixed line I need to trust my life to. That’s typically what would be shared at most climbing gyms as well so curious if they mentioned fixing a line in this manner when he learned. So unless I am mistaken this was the biggest problem I saw. 2.) the choice of belay device/rappelling device was a gri-gri so big points there. However I would always get in the mindset of not trusting it to auto brake like it’s designed to do and tie a back up knot underneath the device in case it slips while you are hands free. They have been known to slip under certain circumstances and once it goes it’s super hard to stop unless a knot jams into the device to arrest a fall. Since his rope runs back up above him, that could be his back up but I didn’t see if it was also tied off or if he just had all his remaining rope up there. 3.) at 32:57 you get a snapshot of a prusik knot as a progress capture that is attached to the rope above the belay/rappelling device attached to a foot loop he can use by sliding it up the rope, the knot bites, he stands up on it, and then takes in his slack, and lather rinse repeat to ascend up the line. This is a super crucial skill in climbing but it is tiring and more typically used in self rescue scenarios, and he would benefit from investing in a Jumar or ascending device and create some mechanical advantage for ascending that line in the future to make it faster and less tiring. And I imagine speed is of the essence here. All that being said there could be some things I missed that he was doing but I had limited snapshots based on the edit to discern his strategy. Hope this helps! Definitely, definitely don’t ever try this without proper training. Rappelling kills more people than actually climbing does. Full stop. That I know I am not wrong in.

[@willowsnider3824]

Agreed. As someone raised in the circus as an aerialist and deeply into art activism since I was a kid and gorilla after, so so much respect for this.

[@killerkiser8541]

​@@jordancampbell2577Whoa!! Publish a book next time

[@jordancampbell2577]

@@killerkiser8541 hey when talking about a topic where a mistake can literally kill you it’s probably best not to be too vague right? ;)

[@Kylesmarketplace]

dude, this is done exceptional well, incredible work. PDX local here... Crazy to see the city continuing to blame everyone but the local government lol.

[@MFX101]

The old man doesn't realize he has became one of them in a way

[@rctopfueler2841]

Really thats your answer

[@melikeursmile]

Yeah hes literally graffiting too his coverups look like shit

[@MrTripleXXX]

@@melikeursmile Rofl yeah. People don't realise part of the definition of graffiti is that is it "illegal". Once it becomes legal it's not longer graffiti anymore.

[@r4spb3rry_t4rt]

I'm such a fan of graffiti. It has such a deep culture that many people don't care to learn about, so seeing your video is really nice. Thank you for giving graffiti artists a chance to shine and providing a small space for them to express their feelings. I wish Portland and many other cities would start addressing the real problems that plague their spaces, but until then I will enjoy the graffiti art that I see around town

[@LessTraveledDiscovery]

Gramps gots the bug. He will be in graffiti anonymous classes soon.

[@von...]

bro hooooly shit, that monk repel piece is crazyyy I cannot believe yall really got that in this ep, that's so dope

[@ASewingMachine]

what’s crazy about it

[@danny-be4bi]

@@ASewingMachinedw ab it

[@NefariousStyx666]

@@ASewingMachine crazier than sitting on your ass playing call of duty is all I can say, bud.

[@stevehopkins9015]

Monk6 gets up 💪✌️🤙

[@WatermelonYoshi]

funny thing is him and blor aren't even the first to repel in Portland but tried to flex as if they were lmfao🥱

[@kidinthycorner]

Just stumbled onto this channel and found this grafitti video. This is great. I know a few friends who are wanting to get into video journalism and I sent this to them. Your videos are honestly bangers. Great interviews and you're getting down n dirty in portlands "dark side" Not only that but its in the city i've lived in since I was born. Great video and I honestly didnt get to see whos been behind this. Great video!

[@dadboard]

Gimer* “Graffiti is me escaping reality” interviewer* “ok but what does it do for you personally?”

[@grlygirl1264]

I needed to see this! I have always wondered how the graffiti got where it was...how did they get up there and how did no one see them?? Some of the graffiti in Portland I love....the colors the creativity. It's just dazzling for my eyes... but at the same time too much of it makes the city look bad. I don't know what the answer is, but I love that you gave us a behind the scenes peek... and filled in some blanks. Well done... well done.

[@connorcruz6249]

bro as someone from L.A. i love seeing the expression and color that the graffiti brings, but at the same time i completely understand why this is a big shock for Portlanders when all of this started popping up, i think it speaks more to a broader social unrest rather than some kind of criminal endeavor

[@zipzopzubadabop]

idc what anyone says. i respect that old man just as much as the artist hes covering up. yin-yang

[@josiahamaze]

Facts

[@sammoore3942]

Guys doing little pieces over it its all love. He loves to hate

[@rctopfueler2841]

@@zipzopzubadabop he is a real portlander not a cheap import

[@MrTripleXXX]

The old man is the biggest vandal of them all. He needs to get a little more creative though.

[@totality-hypnotics]

This is so well done I am so thankful that we get to see depth on both sides. I look forward to the future reports on this.

[@alexlianarosalin6168]

I love how he gets 2 sides of the story 👏

[@Sniperz_Fish]

Yeah and got one side shut down

[@jazzfeline5970]

I was surprised to see that this channel has less than 5k subscribers. This is better documentary work than anything Vice has done in years. Great work.

[@PartyChancho]

No lie, got my Sub^

[@mikeyrizzo7606]

💯🎯⬆️😎

[@riddance1]

Vice has done multiple 10+ very good documentaries this year don’t lie

[@gorryman]

tru tru

[@lonepinefarmbc]

I just binge watched this entire season and your work is amazing! You’re curious and respectful and clearly very dedicated to sharing stories that disrupt the common idea of the “dangerous underground.” The camera work and editing is top notch as well! I’ve subscribed and am looking forward to whatever you do next!

[@TheGelatinousOoze]

good doc. on point with the stuff going on out in portland too

[@ludgeisatmcdonalds]

monk gets up in some crazy spots love being able to see that process

[@mitchjus1966]

That old man is technically vandalizing, since the city didn’t hire him, send him to jail.

[@thegoonch1]

And they just busted GIMER, after identifying him from this video. Hilarious.

[@nick-alias]

It’s so funny 😂

[@brandonpadilla1953]

FUCK

[@brandonpadilla1953]

@@nick-aliashow is it funny? And how would they even identify him he doesn’t show his face or anything

[@reasonone6898]

Probably the people that made the documentary.people got pressured with charges and they gave up some info

[@aaronkamakaze2967]

@@brandonpadilla1953are people really this dumb? Police were already watching him, because he was giving lots of other graff writers supplies he made himself vulnerable. They were already watching him for 5-6 months, but the documentary gave the police the evidence needed to raid his house. He exposed his voice, showed his tattoos, told the documentary crew what he writes. No one “snitched”. Gimer self snitched. He rambled on and on exposing himself and giving the police endless evidence. This is why you never self snitch. Never expose small details about yourself. Gimer should have either A. Never did the video. Or B. Never said what he wrote, never showed his stash house, and made sure his voice was changed and tattoos were blacked out. Instead he got cocky. He wanted attention and fame over being cautious.

[@bertsperling7007]

Massive props for the production! Actually really good. Camera work, angles, multiple POV, night drone footage, and nice (really nice) editing. A LOT of work went into this piece. Best of all, it doesn't get in the way of the story. Very cool.

[@chaostown]

We worked really hard! Thanks.

[@123-p1u]

Somebody get grandpa some fat caps! Also tell that fool to gimme 20 bucks grandpa!

[@bvsk111]

my first thought

[@johnwayne666]

😂

[@John-mf6ky]

Fr

[@Banksplayz]

I started cracking up so hard when that first dude said if you live in Portland, you’ve probably heard of me. I’ve lived here over two decades and I’ve never heard of that fool.

[@user-jv7mf2ce8n]

My guy out here all incognito in the FedEx truck, but felt comfortable getting drone shots…?

[@aaronfrl]

uhhh

[@GrazCore]

The quality and journalism of this video is amazing. Followed.

[@chaostown]

Spread the word!

[@HaveAnother775]

the production quality is so sick...the content is so sick....I grew up with graffitti crews in Reno, and it was serious sh**...such a dope subculture...glad you guys are covering these artists and how important it is to'em

[@Slug42069]

I seen Monk's piece in person and thought "How the fuck?!". great doc!

[@danielleburke87]

Monk gives me Antifa vibes

[@notaspire]

I live in Portland, I don’t write graffiti but I love it. And I’ve also wondered how they get those large vertical pieces down the side of huge buildings lmao

[@anierinb]

I bet you love the homelessness and rampant crime as well, huh?

[@MarkDanielz]

This was amazing and eye opening piece. So I want to give respect to Chaostown. I am a long time radio DJ right here in the city and I understand journalism and this was very well done with no political angle just informative. These artists told the truth, stop placing blame in the wrong areas and deal with the real problems. what they're doing is still a felony but we can advocate for an artistic space for them to do this and not become felons over painting? We gotta do better and we must expect better from officials. Don't sit silent, lets act.

[@badooh2561]

My man showed up with cover-up cans in a wicker basket! For real for real love for the game

[@vapour_xs9235]

I, too, have lived in Portland all my life, and my family decided to move out due to both the homelessness and the state of despair and disarray the city seemed to project. It never bothered me that much, graffiti, but if the artists could use their skills for things like murals or public displays, that would make the city seem more inclined to that mindset of painting a picture for all to see. But, if the city isn’t going to respond to peoples’ complaints about their properties, or anywhere they go, being vandalized by graffiti, then that’s a huge fault on the city’s part for providing for the people. I can see a happy medium in this issue, that medium just needs to be met.

[@freckledass]

Where did you guys move to?

[@OutSideTheBoxYT2]

the funniest part about the old guyis taggers like when shit gets buffed bc its a fresh space all over again lol

[@loremipsum685]

easily one of the best graff docs I've seen. Production, interview style, everything hit.

[@TURK_182]

The was sick with the drone shots, bro was getting some pendulum action

[@BlueAdventureMedia]

Thank you for making this! Takes a lot of balls! The filming and the painter! Buffering is not the solution, it's the drug problems the city has. It's just creating a new canvas for us artists! Lets go MONK! 🔥

[@badboygoodgirl]

ngl I was afraid when he started self rappelling lmaooo

[@XoNasX]

34:39 Most beautiful moment ever, how that last missing part of the outline is drawn - by using the swinging motion, looks insane

[@tutyrudy]

Amazing video! Love the cinemaphotography. As a Portland local, I do always ask myself, how the F do they get up there?!

[@alamut8402]

Bro this video was really good and really entertaining, nice research and you interviewed some cool people. Wasn’t expecting that of a good documentary when it was recommended to me

[@GRiNDWiZARD187]

Props to Chaostown , this is what good journalism is about. Showing different sides of it . Showing it's not 2 sided but has many sides on the subject , good work

[@dreadfulXLIVE]

Rats

[@bmathers21]

I just imagine the guy who owns the graffiti removal business hiring graff artists to get up regularly on his contracts. Dude has to be thankful for graffiti, its his whole job security 😂

[@Soulstealing1]

Foo really got a whole ass van all fed looking inside for nothing 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@tribalwar9971]

It was set up to take footage did you not watch the last 15mins. Who TF you think filmed that. You should Graff 'idiiot'

[@jasonsnyder8341]

English please.

[@theTavis01]

@@jasonsnyder8341 "This fine gentleman made the inside of his van look like he's an undercover federal agent, but it wasn't necessary"

[@jasonsnyder8341]

@@theTavis01 thankyou. now wasn't that easier instead of quoting the urban dictionary.

[@torbot_]

Haaaa

[@karlnorgaard9447]

Old guy is just next level covert. So meta. When no one's looking, he writes 'grey power'.

[@MrHoseff]

Michael Corrie the old man, graffiti buffer is probably almost as addicted as the graffiti writers to going out and spray painting stuff. It probably started with an idea to get rid of it, but there’s no way he could ever go out and get rid of all of it, he can’t even put a dent in it, so it’s now probably just an addiction for him. Give him something to do just like the graffiti writers lol

[@jasonnugent963]

Amazing cinematography work here. As a mural and graffiti enthusiast and relative newcomer to Portland, seeing the recent history of this underground is pretty amazing.

[@Azazel2024]

So a homeless guy and antifa dude or just an a hole that tags other ppls stuff , either way you suxk

[@mrvader24]

That old dude is a modern day spit. He doesn’t even realize he’s a tagger too 😂 4:41

[@deejaydiabolic]

Fantastic video segment 👏 The production value on this is top notch! Very compelling watch.

[@L3WSR]

Enjoying this so much! Been keeping up with portland graff since 5am and gimer

[@5AMTV]

Yeeeeee

[@reiniergamboa]

The old man is driven by hate and he admits it... I admire the honesty and commitment even though he can't match colors.

[@supme7558]

He is trash

[@msmoe8687]

You people are what's wrong with Portland

[@danielleburke87]

He is old, and it gives him something to do, and he thinks he's doing good

[@reiniergamboa]

@@danielleburke87 we all need a sense of purpose

[@AngelGutierrez-hk9tq]

Amazing artwork as man who grew up in San Diego and spent plenty of time in Los Angeles the graffiti feels more like home . I say that meaning a more diverse and culturally attentive community. The only thing that needs to change is the problem we all agree on FENTANYL

[@benjamin3044]

This video is insanely well made and the storytelling is beautiful. How have I not heard of this channel before?!

[@chloefeldman6513]

Old dude needs some air max 90s fshoooo

[@princequestly2218]

Old guy needs to go get a hobby. He just makes it look like trash the graffiti looks way better than what he does.

[@leslieholt813]

Really amazing insight into the city that I love, yet haven't been able to recognize in several years. (SAD) You gave me so much more knowledge about the problem and that my very wise friend is a win. Through your work on this story I'm already starting to recall the Portland that was and still is.... HOME! tyvm

[@steinkemedia2447]

Damn this didn’t go as planned

[@egorleontev9970]

Portland is loosing a lot of wars at the moment.

[@PlutoTheGod]

Yeah graffiti is the least of its worries. It’s really just an expression of a city that’s stressed out at this point

[@DoingNothingKing]

@@PlutoTheGodno it’s not. These punks are wasting resources that could be going elsewhere then cry thag the city isn’t helping then graffiti the wall. It actually blows my mind how lost they are. If they want to “express their art” there’s thousands of different ways. But they’re insecure punks who can’t get attention in the real world so resort to this. If they want change in the city, if they want their “art to portray the evil doing that the city is causing” then fucking stop & be better

[@mysteryY2K]

like the Afghanistan War

[@DanielIvan707]

Governments on going war against us. The best part they pay for it with our tax money.

[@Durgenheim]

*losing

[@hyperslow556gungamer]

We The People also lost the war against the pharmaceutical cartel companies.

[@cameronrich2536]

Graffiti cleaners like take that we cleaned up the wall. Graffitti writers like, thanks for a fresh new spot to hit 😂

[@Ben-rq5re]

The cleaners’ entire business model revolves around there being graffiti to clean - do you really think they want the graffiti to end? Morons..

[@Theabstractblu]

Faaaaaaaccccccccts

[@Mankind-Journey]

Bottom feeders of culture fill the crannies of their brain with shit.

[@cameronrich2536]

@@Ben-rq5re you're mother

[@RELICS92]

I really enjoyed this doc being an ex writer that still very much loves the culture and grew up appreciating it since i first saw the old school 1982 documentary 'Style Wars' and the 1983 movie 'Wild Style' back in the 80's documenting the birth of Hip Hop culture in the Bronx,New York. This was very similar in the way it captured all angles with both the writer's and those attempting to 'buff' it but with a quiet respect to each other and appreciation for why each other does what they do. Great ending too with 'Monk' pulling off a very real dangerous and daring piece off that bridge at the end. Stay safe out there guy's. Peace out from London,UK

[@EdwardSteadfast]

Get that ol man some fat caps, it will change his life😂❤

[@marzinjedi6437]

My town has murals everywhere but the graffiti artists are the ones who get paid to paint them ! And lesser artists don’t tag those places because they want to get jobs painting murals lol 😂

[@__-ni1kz]

Some local businesses downtown in my city hired artists to do murals in the alleyways downtown. Nobody with decency will tag over a mural, so it solves the “issue” in a much more constructive way than gray paint.

[@marzinjedi6437]

@@__-ni1kz Asheville North Carolina is the town I am talking about if you want to check some of the artists murals . Cheers .

[@__-ni1kz]

@@marzinjedi6437 will do homie

[@courtneyshannon2621]

Unfortunately here in Portland, they are tagging the murals.

[@__-ni1kz]

@@courtneyshannon2621 damn. That really sucks.